DVX100B - Too Little, Too Late?

DVX100B - Too Little, Too Late?

  • Yup, Too Little

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yup, Too Late

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Nope, Its Just Right!

    Votes: 3 100.0%

  • Where's My HDVX150??

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    3
Zoom8

Zoom8

Well-known member
That's the way a poster on 2-pop put it, and I guess I disagree as I just bought the 100B!

HOWEVER . . . with all the fuss and attention being lavished on the HVX200 it does seem that the attention of the forum has swung away from the 100B just at a time when Panasonic has released a very nice upgrade to the 100A.

So for those of us still dreaming about the HVX200 (and I include myself) maybe we can come back to Earth every once in a while and pull our focus back to the 100B .

I think if the 200 hadn't just shown up there would be so much more discussion of the advancements of the B over the A -- and I'd like to read that stuff!

So, 100B owners (I know you are out there) let's hear about your new cam!

I'll start, but since I m such a newbie, all I can do is add my voice to the chorus and say that in the last 2 weeks I've had a few chances to shoot some fun stuff while visiting family in Florida and this camera is a definite WOW!

The 100B is a huge step up from the point-and-shoot Sony 8, Hi8, D8 and MiniDV camcorders I've shot home movies with for the past 20 years (even thought I was constantly overriding the auto settings). I am very impressed with the naturalness of its low light performance, and even though I have pretty much stayed in 60i for the moment (gotta start somewhere) I am really looking forward to seeing what this puppy can do in 24p as I become more comfortable with the cameras controls.

Any other 100B owners care to chime in?

And BTW a "kiss-up" to Barry Green is completely in order here as the included DVD and book are superb and hugely helpful in getting a grip on this camera and its many many many flexible features.

Oh, but Barry, get Jan to spring for a nice color cover for the HVX book! (Can't help it, I was a graphic artist for decades).

That poster on 2-pop was really hoping for a native 16x9 version of the 100 and who knows, maybe Panasonic has an HDVX150 up their corporate sleeves for '06!

This, I guess, is just an overly long way of saying I really love my new 100B but am feeling like my cam is a tad overlooked in the scheme of things right now (understandably).

Cheers!
Joe
 
I love my 100b! All the little improvements are great. Best on being the proper 16:9 viewing for me. I like to shoot in squeeze mode and it was always discouraging with the 100a to see it stretched. Secondly the viewfinder and LCD screen are absolutely beautiful looking now!
 
The 100b is great camera. The HVX base price is $5999 without P2 cards. That means you can only shoot DV and yeah it can be 16:9 but $2500 for that feature is radical? Also the HVX will go through similar permutations, 200, 200a, 200b, etc. and undoubtly the P2 cards or alternatives will be more affordable in a year. If you need HDV then rent the camera for the shoot. The DXV 100b will give high quality and with the 16:9 options (anamorphic, squeeze, letter box) plus post production options live DV Film & Photozoom you can do one heck a fine job.

How do I really feel about the 100b? I luv it !

S Cannon
 
Though the 200 is getting alot of attention, the DVX series has much to be happy about. Personally, I have been following the developments of the Reel-Stream camps' Andromeda/SculptorHD solution for the DVX cameras. To me being able to modify my existing camera investment (I have a 100A) and be able to get uncompressed 4:4:4 images is a far greater opportunity than the P2 solution. That's just me. With the guys over a Cinetek and their 35mm adaptor G35 and the Redrock Micro35, there's no excuse anymore. If you have skills, you can get it done. The sky's the limit for us now. Having a mini Varicam is the thing until I can afford to acquire the ultimate setup.
 
joemondello said:
That's the way a poster on 2-pop put it, and I guess I disagree as I just bought the 100B!

HOWEVER . . . with all the fuss and attention being lavished on the HVX200 it does seem that the attention of the forum has swung away from the 100B just at a time when Panasonic has released a very nice upgrade to the 100A.

I think if the 200 hadn't just shown up there would be so much more discussion of the advancements of the B over the A -- and I'd like to read that stuff!

The 100B is a huge step up from the point-and-shoot Sony 8, Hi8, D8 and MiniDV camcorders I've shot home movies with for the past 20 years (even thought I was constantly overriding the auto settings). I am very impressed with the naturalness of its low light performance, and even though I have pretty much stayed in 60i for the moment (gotta start somewhere) I am really looking forward to seeing what this puppy can do in 24p as I become more comfortable with the cameras controls.

And BTW a "kiss-up" to Barry Green is completely in order here as the included DVD and book are superb and hugely helpful in getting a grip on this camera and its many many many flexible features.

That poster on 2-pop was really hoping for a native 16x9 version of the 100 and who knows, maybe Panasonic has an HDVX150 up their corporate sleeves for '06!

This, I guess, is just an overly long way of saying I really love my new 100B but am feeling like my cam is a tad overlooked in the scheme of things right now (understandably).
Cheers!
Joe
Click to expand...

The decision whether to opt for the HVX or 100B was a difficult one for me . . . I loved my “A” model. Having sold my DVX in November (and being “camera-less” since then) has caused me to have nightmares. If I could have afforded it I would have kept my DVX (or got the DVX-100B), and bought the HVX-200.

Okay, you asked for feedback from “B” owners and I don’t have one, so why I am posting here? Well, I gotta tell you even though I stand to see a camera “soon” there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about canceling my order and going with the DVX-100B. While I will probably stick with my current plan, there is a lot of appeal to a camera that I already know how to operate, have the work flow down and all the tools to process the results . . . all without having to spend another nickel. I was consistently happy with my results.

Regarding the 2-Pop guy that was hoping for 16x9 . . . if he had kept up on the number of posts here (and elsewhere around the web) he wouldn’t have been disappointed because it had been stated over and over that, at the price point, it would not be an option (but we can still dream—I certainly do).

If you’ve enjoyed shooting 60i and over-riding automatic settings let me suggest, as you have Barry’s book—there is no excuse not to, set your camera on F5 or F6 and TURN OFF ALL AUTOMATIC SETTINGS . . . you are in for a very pleasant surprise!

Sure there’s a lot of excitement about the HVX-200 . . . just as there will be with the next new thing that happens down the pike. You, my friend, have an excellent camera (and I can’t say I’m not just a little jealous). Get out there and start burning some tape!

Best of luck.
 
I was like "I don't have the 6 g's for an HVX, or 2k for the media, or a dual Xeon w/ 3gigs of ram", so it was like a gamble to buy the 100b.
I had an A and it sucked ass in low light, I got a B and it's like night and day leterally, the mic now being twice as sensitive is a big plus, better prizm=better image, nothing but praise for this camera, thanx again, true 16x9 would've been awesome.
love it love it love it.
 
The decision to not include native 16x9 because of expence could have been somewhat remedied by including detachable lense features at little or no cost.
 
The decision to not include native 16x9 because of expence could have been somewhat remedied by including detachable lense features at little or no cost.
 
As this is a poll where you can vote for more than one thing, take the numbers "with a grain of salt" (where the heck did THAT expression come from?), but what is clear is that 2/3 responding think the 100B is "the bees knees" (and where did THAT one come from?)

And, apart from the fact that my AF motor ruins low level audio from the built-in mic, this camera really is sensational IMO.
 
This 100B looks great, but I happen to have $6000 exactly in a savings account and I figured for me, the option of HD and the variable frames sold me on the HVX. But...I used the 100A when I directed a horror feature this year and the images were great (didn't like the night stuff though) and was tempted to just save a few grand and go for B (yes, I know with the P2 cards it will be more but will wait 6 months for a drop in price and rent if must be until then).

So, I could have got caught in the "what will be next" waiting game, but if I did that I wouldn't own a Canon 20D still camera, an ibook G4 computer, etc.

So, I love what the 100B is offering but I opted (at least right now) for the HVX.
 
Unix said:

" I had an A and it sucked ass in low light, I got a B and it's like night and day leterally"

I own a dvx100A and yeah the noise in low light made me think twice about shooting weddings with it. Would you say its nearly enough to shoot weddings or would you still use a sony pd150/170?
Just curious. Low noise would be the main reason I'd get the 100B.
 
The DVX100B is the best DV Camera on the market.

The DVX100B is the best DV Camera on the market.

Think about it. The DVX100B has all of these very nice user based improvements, the look of the video totally outshines the competition. (although there are a few that think the Canon is better but I just simply don't agre on that one.) The PD170 is over 2 years old with not a single improvement, and for the folks that are committed to DV, this camera is perfect. It just does what you need it to do.

And I love the color of it. ;-)

My .02,

Jan
 
Some well-deserved kudos to Jan and the team at Panasonic for NOT abandoning (ie ignoring) the DVX100 series with all that must have been going on to bring the HVX200 to market.

I shot my first 24p footage the other day at the beach at sunset and all I can say is WOW.

As for the low light performance, I shot a day at Sea World Orlando that ended up with a fireworks display which looks terrific -- just as you would expect it to look. There are several exhibits there which are also low light and I think the PQ is outstanding under those conditions.
 
For me, it was just too late. I bought the 100A the month before I found out about the 100B. Now I'm waiting for the HVX200A.
 
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